The dictionary describes compassion as being “sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.”
In the Bible there are several verses about the importance of compassion. In 1 John 3:17 we read “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” and Ephesians 4: 31,32 says “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as by Christ, God forgave you.” One of the most famous verses in the Bible states that “there is more happiness in giving than receiving” (Acts 20:35), so the Bible clearly encourages compassion.
But it seems like compassion is not good just for Christians who want to follow the Bible’s advice. Science agrees that compassion is good for everyone.
Mental health researchers believe that practicing compassion improves health. People who help others feel happier, less lonely, and more positive.
An article published in 2013 by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley says the following: “Research by Ed Diener and Martin Seligman, leading researchers in positive psychology, suggests that connecting with others in a meaningful way helps us enjoy better mental and physical health and speeds up recovery from disease; furthermore, research by Stephanie Brown, at Stony Brook University, and Sara Konrath, at the University of Michigan, has shown that it may even lengthen our lifespan.
The reason a compassionate lifestyle leads to greater psychological well-being may be that the act of giving appears to be as pleasurable as the act of receiving, if not more so. A brain-imaging study led by neuroscientists at the National Institutes of Health showed that the “pleasure centers” in the brain—i.e., the parts of the brain that are active when we experience pleasure (like dessert, money, and sex)—are equally active when we observe someone giving money to charity as when we receive money ourselves!
Research also suggests that a compassionate lifestyle may improve longevity, which may be because it provides a buffer against stress. A recent study conducted on a large population (more than 800 people) and led by the University at Buffalo’s Michael Poulin found that stress was linked to a higher chance of dying—but not among those who helped others.”
Here are a couple more articles that emphasize the same ideas:
The Health Benefits of Practicing Compassion | HuffPost
The Best Kept Secret to Happiness & Health: Compassion
In the Bible there are several verses about the importance of compassion. In 1 John 3:17 we read “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” and Ephesians 4: 31,32 says “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as by Christ, God forgave you.” One of the most famous verses in the Bible states that “there is more happiness in giving than receiving” (Acts 20:35), so the Bible clearly encourages compassion.
But it seems like compassion is not good just for Christians who want to follow the Bible’s advice. Science agrees that compassion is good for everyone.
Mental health researchers believe that practicing compassion improves health. People who help others feel happier, less lonely, and more positive.
An article published in 2013 by the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley says the following: “Research by Ed Diener and Martin Seligman, leading researchers in positive psychology, suggests that connecting with others in a meaningful way helps us enjoy better mental and physical health and speeds up recovery from disease; furthermore, research by Stephanie Brown, at Stony Brook University, and Sara Konrath, at the University of Michigan, has shown that it may even lengthen our lifespan.
The reason a compassionate lifestyle leads to greater psychological well-being may be that the act of giving appears to be as pleasurable as the act of receiving, if not more so. A brain-imaging study led by neuroscientists at the National Institutes of Health showed that the “pleasure centers” in the brain—i.e., the parts of the brain that are active when we experience pleasure (like dessert, money, and sex)—are equally active when we observe someone giving money to charity as when we receive money ourselves!
Research also suggests that a compassionate lifestyle may improve longevity, which may be because it provides a buffer against stress. A recent study conducted on a large population (more than 800 people) and led by the University at Buffalo’s Michael Poulin found that stress was linked to a higher chance of dying—but not among those who helped others.”
Here are a couple more articles that emphasize the same ideas:
The Health Benefits of Practicing Compassion | HuffPost
The Best Kept Secret to Happiness & Health: Compassion
